6 February 2023

Vegetarian portobello 'Babi Pangang'

 


Remove the stems of 3 portobellos and slice them in 4 mm slices.

Mix 2 tbsp ketjap manis, 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce, 1/2 tbsp five-spice, a pinch each of garlic powder, ginger powder ánd cayenne pepper then stir in the portobello slices to marinate.

Bring 1/2 l water to the boil with 1,5 dl white wine vinegar, 1,5 tbsp caster sugar, 1 star anise, salt and a laurel leaf

Use a mandoline to slice 2 carrots into thin matchstick-sized strips and slice 1/2 oxheart cabbage very thinly. Mix them in a bowl, then pour over the boiling water. Cover with clingfilm.

Mince 1 shallot, a clove of garlic, a 20g piece of fresh ginger and 1/2 red chili pepper, then sweat in a tsp arachide oil

Add 20g tomato paste and briefly sweat. Then add 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce, 1,5 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp ketchup and a splash of water and boil softly.Finally add 1/2 tsp five-spice and keep warm

Drain the portobello slices then dust them with 50g Maizena corn starch, using 2 hands to cover them well.

Heat a splash of arachide oil in a big frying pan and fry the mushrooms crispy in the hot oil. Drain on kitchen paper

Start plating with the carrot and cabbage salad, then add the crispy portobello slices and the sauce. Finish with coriander leaves 

Serve rice on the side

(Here the original recipe by Jeroen Meus in Flemish)

For the meat version: bring 300ml water to the boil, with 2 minced cloves of garlic, 3 star anise, 1 tsp ginger powder, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 3 tbsp ketjap manis, 1 tsp sambal and 2 tbsp rice wine

Add two porc chops from the shoulder, softly boil for 10 mins, kill the heat and leave the meat to cool in the marinade.

Dry the meat with kitchen paper and fry crisp in plenty of oil, about 2-3 mins per side. Serve in thin slices